I Measured My Watches with the “Watch Accuracy Meter”—Then the God of Laughter Appeared

　This may sound like heresy coming from a watch enthusiast, but my standards for a watch’s “accuracy” are pretty relaxed. To put a number on it, I consider a daily deviation of ±1 minute perfectly acceptable… In short, my attitude is, “As long as it’s still ticking, I’m happy” (；´∀｀)

*Click here to read the story about “ZEGATO” that I just couldn’t forgive.

　That’s because I always set my watch to run “about three minutes fast.” As long as I can check the exact time on my smartphone, I’m good to go. What I want from a mechanical watch is simply “a more characterful way of keeping time”; I don’t expect it to serve me in high-pressure situations where every second counts. So even if it gains or loses as much as 60 seconds a day, it’s rarely a problem given the way I use it.

Mechanical Watches for Those Who Still Value Precision

　That said, greater accuracy is certainly better, and changes in timekeeping can serve as an indicator of a watch’s “health.” To avoid suddenly discovering one day that “Oh no, it’s stopped!!” it’s only natural to pay a certain amount of attention to your watch’s condition.

Let’s Use a Timegrapher

　Have you heard of a “timegrapher”? Also known as a watch timing machine, it measures a mechanical watch’s rate and condition, then displays the results in an easy-to-understand format. It’s a familiar tool to many serious watch enthusiasts.

　For a watch enthusiast, a timegrapher is certainly a useful tool to own, and using one can become part of the pleasure of the hobby. The question, however, is which model to buy. Professional-grade machines can be astonishingly expensive.

　That said, an expensive timegrapher is not automatically easier or more reliable. I remember the manager of a well-known watch store lamenting that, although he had invested in an expensive machine befitting a professional shop, it was extremely sensitive to setup and difficult to use. In the end, he even remarked, “The one you can buy for around 20,000 yen might actually be the best.” So, for a first machine, starting with a reasonably priced model should be perfectly fine.

You Don’t Need to Go Out of Your Way to Buy an Expensive Timegrapher

　When I first started using one, I hesitated, thinking, “What are all these complicated-looking numbers?” But once you understand what they mean, a timegrapher is surprisingly easy to use—almost anticlimactically so.

　　Even so, the cheapest machines still cost close to 20,000 yen. Let’s be honest—that’s a fairly painful expense, isn’t it? Well, I have good news. Believe it or not, there’s an excellent smartphone app that can perform a simple rate measurement. It’s called “Watch Accuracy Meter.”

What Is Watch Accuracy Meter?

　As many of you already know, we truly live in an incredible age. After all, useful tools like this can be downloaded whenever we need them.

　Although it’s a simple app, it is more than capable of giving a hobbyist’s watch a basic “health check.” Its simplicity also makes it remarkably easy to use. Being able to check a watch’s rate anytime and almost anywhere makes it a dream tool for enthusiasts. During a break at work—I do this all the time—at the counter of a stylish Irish bar, or beside the window of a business hotel on a trip, you can measure your watch to your heart’s content. Hmm… There’s something rather stylish about that!!

　There was one thing that puzzled me when I first started using it. The measured rate is shown as a straight trace made up of stacked red triangles, but that trace can appear in different positions on the screen. Because you have to compare it with the fan-shaped scale to determine “how many seconds fast” or “how many seconds slow” the watch is running, it becomes difficult to read when the trace and the scale’s reference point do not line up.

　I had resigned myself to it, thinking, “I suppose that’s just how it works,” until one day I realized that I could actually move the red trace (lol). Slide it toward the center with your finger and the reading becomes much easier to understand.

Four Key Measurements to Check

　High-end timegraphers can measure a wide range of parameters with great precision, but unless you are a professional watch repairer, you probably do not need that level of detail. Even if you try regulating a movement yourself, fine-tuning it to professional standards is no easy task. For a basic health check, approximate data is more than enough.

　So, in this section, I’ll highlight and explain the “four key factors.” Personally, I use just this information on a daily basis to assess the condition of my watch.

Daily Rate (RATE)

　This indicates how much a mechanical watch gains or loses in one day and is expressed as seconds per day. The result varies with wearing conditions, position, temperature, and the state of wind. If it differs greatly from the movement’s normal specifications, it may be time to have the watch inspected or serviced.

Amplitude (AMPLITUDE)

　Amplitude is the angle through which the balance wheel swings as it oscillates. It is one of the most useful indicators of how efficiently energy is being transmitted through the movement. For a healthy modern mechanical watch in a horizontal position, an amplitude of roughly 270° to 320° is generally considered a good sign.

　If the amplitude falls outside an appropriate range, the watch may become less stable and more likely to gain or lose time. A particularly low amplitude can indicate that the movement is not receiving enough energy.

　Low amplitude can also point to increased friction, deteriorated lubrication, insufficient mainspring power, or another problem in the transmission of energy. In more serious cases, the movement may eventually stop (；´∀｀)

Beat Error (BEAT ERROR)

　Ideally, the balance should spend equal time swinging in each direction. Beat error expresses the difference between those two halves of the oscillation. In a modern watch, a reading of around 0.0 to 0.2 milliseconds is generally considered excellent, although older and vintage movements are often judged more leniently.

Beat Rate (FREQUENCY)

　Beat rate refers to the frequency at which the balance oscillates. A movement running at 21,600 vibrations per hour (vph) beats six times per second, while today’s common 28,800 vph rate equals eight beats per second. In other words, the escapement is ticking away eight times in a single second. That’s quite a pace, isn’t it? Generally speaking, a higher beat rate can help improve rate stability and resistance to disturbances, although it also brings its own engineering trade-offs.

　A timegrapher identifies this value almost instantly. That is often the moment when you first realize, “Oh, so this is a six-beat-per-second movement!!” There are, of course, many frequencies besides the familiar 21,600 vph and 28,800 vph. The El Primero is famous for its 36,000 vph rate, while some pocket-watch movements run at 14,400 vph. There are also less common frequencies such as 18,000 vph, 19,800 vph, and 25,200 vph. Fascinating, isn’t it? I’m suddenly struggling with the urge to collect watches running at every possible frequency (laughs).

　With “Watch Accuracy Meter,” you can check all of these factors. I think it is a very well-designed app. For collectors who want to examine a watch’s basic timing condition without spending tens of thousands of yen on a timegrapher they may use only occasionally, it is a godsend.

　There is, however, one thing to keep in mind. Because the app uses your smartphone’s microphone to pick up the sound of the movement, you need to place the watch close to the phone while taking a reading. In short, there is at least some risk of exposing the watch to magnetism (；´∀｀)

Isn’t holding a wristwatch close to a smartphone a “no-no”?

　Yes, it’s definitely a “no-go.” That said, in everyday life, there are countless instances where digital devices like smartphones come into contact with wristwatches. Apparently, there have even been cases where watches became magnetized simply from wearing them while working on a laptop.

　　Incidentally, on smartphones, the “speaker” and “logic board” are said to be the areas with the strongest magnetic fields. They reportedly generate a magnetic field strong enough to trigger a compass even when held 5 centimeters away.

　That said, if someone asked whether leaving a smartphone and a watch together in a bag for an entire day would be “disastrous,” I would say there is no need to panic. Magnetization serious enough to cause a noticeable change in timekeeping would usually require fairly close or prolonged exposure. In fact, the magnets commonly found around an office desk may pose an even greater threat. Some tablet covers use strong magnets to secure their flaps, so never place your watch directly on top of one.

　As you can see, we who live in the modern world are exposed to magnetism no matter where we are, so there’s no point in getting overly anxious about it. Personally, I think it’s less stressful to just accept that “if I get magnetized, I get magnetized” and go about my life.

　However, I think this is something that might concern some people, so if you’re worried, you might want to avoid using the “Watch Accuracy Meter,” which requires your smartphone to be nearby (・_・;)

　In the unlikely event that magnetization affects accuracy, commercially available “demagnetizers” can be a helpful solution.

*This is the one I use. It’s so cheap!!

Let’s Go Wild Measuring Our Watches with Watch Accuracy Meter!!

　I’ll say this up front: I kind of get the feeling that the “god of laughter” is about to descend (lol).

　To begin with, someone who’s that particular about the “condition” of their watches wouldn’t own as many as 100 at once. Perhaps someone like “Dr. Albert Schweitzer”—a man who combined “compassion and intelligence”—might be able to determine the number of watches he could properly care for with love and responsibility…

　Come to think of it, I remember someone once saying to me, “You guys really are like that—you never feed the fish you’ve caught, do you?”… Well, it’s certainly true that there are plenty of poor, neglected watches lying around—that’s an undeniable fact. So, with that in mind, I’d like to give the “neglected watches” in my collection a “health checkup.” I wonder what kind of “silent protest” they’ll throw at me (sweat).

Measuring the Rate of the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope (027/4600.00M)

　Well, the “Max Bill Chronoscope” is the kind of watch I might wear maybe once every six months, if that. For someone like me who studied the Bauhaus in depth in college, it’s a “special-category watch” in a way… but it’s pretty understated, you know? It’s been quite a while since I bought it, and it’s been pushed to the sidelines by my newer watches.

　Well then, let’s get started!! “Actual Measurements!!”

　+1 second per day!! Hey, what’s up with you? Have you been secretly training or something?! The swing is a little wide, but the amplitude of “307°” is excellent. Even though I haven’t been feeding it… It’s so endearing.

Measuring the Rate of the Timex Marlin Jet (TX-TW2V61900)

　I ended up buying this Timex watch because I really liked its distinctive design. However, this watch… I’ll keep the details under wraps since it might cause a stir, but honestly, it’s been quite the watch.

　So, while I wasn’t expecting any kind of accuracy at all, I just couldn’t shake the excitement of thinking, “Maybe something like this might actually produce chronometer-grade readings??” With that thought still in the back of my mind, I pressed the “Start” button on the “Watch Accuracy Meter.” “Let’s measure it!!”

　No matter how many times I tried, the app could not calculate the amplitude (sweat). It just felt like a complete mess. The two clearly separated traces marked by red triangles suggest that the movement is badly out of beat. Just as I expected, it was a total bust~ (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)

Measuring the Rate of the Timex M79 (TW2U29500)

　Timex at it again!! What do you think!? Can this automatic model live up to the legacy of the smash-hit “Q TIMEX”?

　I have a bad feeling about this, but… “Actual Measurement!!”

　As expected, the score wasn’t quite that bad. You held your ground… Timex!!

　It is gaining quite a lot per day, but since the deviation is on the fast side, let’s call it a win. The beat error is not severe enough to produce two completely separated traces, so the result is something of a mixed bag. By my standards, at least, this is not a situation that requires immediate action.

Measuring the Rate of the Orient Star SOMÈS SADDLE Model (WZ0121DKFIX)

　This “Orient Star” has a smooth, click-click action coming from the crown—it’s in great condition. Man, I really think this one’s going to be fine. I don’t have any proof, though (lol).

　All right then!! “Let’s take some measurements!!”

　Plus 20 seconds, huh… (sweat) Well, I suppose I’ll let it slide!! If I were to borrow an analogy from one of Antonio Inoki’s famous exchanges, this Orient Star is like “The Savage, Manabu Nakanishi” to me. Following Mr. Inoki’s example, I have no choice but to say, “That’s good enough for you.” Though I would like to see a little more amplitude (；´Д｀)

Measuring the Rate of the Orient Star (WZ0151DA)

　Wouldn’t it be so cool if I could say, “Frank?? I don’t need one—I’ve got this one right here!!” (lol) It’s not quite that kind of watch, but I personally love it. It has a great balance of design elements for a tonneau-shaped watch.

　Well, anyway… “Actual Measurements!!”

　It’s a total wreck!! (lol) The low amplitude is especially worrying, and the movement is so badly out of beat that it produces a perfect double trace. The daily rate is 16 seconds. With the amplitude this low, simply regulating the rate myself probably would not solve much…

Measuring the Rate of the Seiko 5 (SNKM90KC, SNKM90K1)

　For some reason, I just love this “5” and can’t bring myself to part with it. To be honest, the build quality is a bit cheap. However, there are some nice details—like the dial design—that really stand out, and apparently, when you wear it, it looks incredibly high-end, which is why it has such a good reputation. So, I’m hoping for a score that does justice to its “Showa-era heartthrob” vibe!! “Actual Measurements!!”

　There it is, there it is!! The amplitude cannot even be measured (lol). And what a beautifully separated double trace. I’m not sure whether magnetism has anything to do with this extreme beat error, but I’m going to try demagnetizing the watches that performed poorly here. It might improve things dramatically (*´ω｀*)

Measuring the Rate of the Seiko 5 Blue Atlas (SKZ209JC)

　The other “5” is the “Blue Atlas.” I just checked it on Amazon, and it was 180,000 yen (lol). That’s ridiculous. After all, it’s just a “7S.” Still, I’m sure there are people who’ll buy it anyway. Well, I’ll admit, it is a really cool-looking watch.

　Well then, let’s take a look at the true power of “7S,” the time-management system that working men around the world have come to rely on. So, “Let’s put it to the test!!”

　Since it’s only been tested lying flat, I can’t trust it at all, but even so, a daily deviation of plus 2 seconds is pretty impressive. The problem, though, is the amplitude, isn’t it… That said, for this one, it might be fine to leave it as is for a while (*´ω｀*)

Measuring the Rate of the ZEGATO (Z-BK6516)

　To all our longtime readers, sorry to keep you waiting!! Here comes everyone’s idol, “ZEGATO”! The “ZEGATO—a clock that transcends time and space,” which moves just 5 minutes in an hour. This is the rowdy ZEGATO, whose strap broke on the very first day. It’s sure to put on a show!! With that eccentric presence of its own!! Now, let’s get to the “actual measurement!!”

　Am I dreaming right now? (lol) I mean, this is ZEGATO, right?? ZEGATO, and yet the daily deviation is 0 seconds?? The amplitude is a bit shallow and there’s some unevenness, but above all, it’s a beautiful straight line, just like a rising dragon. Seriously, did he master the Kaioken or something?? (lol)

　At that point, my trust in this app plummeted (lol). I mean, I just have a feeling there’s some kind of trick to it… (；´Д｀)

Finally… Did you enjoy it? (lol)

　Personally, I really enjoyed writing this. While some watches achieved excellent results in “health promotion” despite me putting absolutely no effort into them, others, as expected, posted dismal scores.

　I actually own a Chinese-made timegrapher that cost about 20,000 yen, and anyone concerned with precise measurements should use a dedicated machine like that. The smartphone app introduced here, “Watch Accuracy Meter,” is less like taking your temperature with a thermometer and more like placing a hand on your forehead and thinking, “You feel feverish.” If you had cold symptoms and felt unusually hot, you would go to a doctor, wouldn’t you? In the same way, Watch Accuracy Meter is a very useful guide for deciding when it may be time to visit the “watch doctor.”

　It goes without saying that, whether purchased through an authorized dealer or the gray market, brand-new watches will generally begin life in better condition. If your priority is to keep a watch performing as well as possible for years to come, there is a strong case for buying new. The adjustments made during assembly place the movement close to its intended condition. Even a pre-owned watch maintained through a retailer’s service network may carry wear or past interventions that are not easy to overcome completely.

　It is not uncommon to hear stories of watches returning from service with new problems, and any work performed outside an authorized network carries some risk. On the other hand, there are also highly skilled independent watchmakers whose abilities rival or even exceed those of authorized technicians. Ultimately, choosing independent repair work or buying a pre-owned watch requires each person to gather information and proceed with a clear understanding of the risks. Anyone hunting for a bargain should be prepared for what that may involve (´・д・`)

　That said… this just goes to show why mechanical watches are so fascinating—they’re practically “living beings” with their own personalities. Seeing these watches overcome the greatest “misfortune” a watch can face—not being worn—or hang on with sheer grit to post outstanding results, I truly felt that way from the bottom of my heart. I definitely saw your souls!! At the same time, I’m really reflecting on my own behavior (sweat).

　Still… it’s “ZEGATO.” Given how my first impression was, well… you know, I can’t help but view this unexpectedly high rating with a skeptical eye. So, I’m going to retest it. If it performs just as well next time, I’ll have to rethink my opinion of ZEGATO!!

　So you really were ZEGATO after all (lol)

*I apologize for posting this so late (lol)